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dalibor talajic

One of my favorite shows right now is the eponymous Supergirl which has surpassed the original movie and in some respects has set the standard for the comic. The show contains multitudes of depth and character development that the movie lacked in comparison. It also is probably one of the more relevant shows on television right now and we’ve seen that same awareness been carried on by Black Lightning. In its current season the show has tackled both xenophobia and hate mongering.

The show is currently threading a storyline which gets at the root of hate. It portrays a movement which is hellbent on attacking anyone who is alien. It asks the question, what would you do if you found out your neighbor is as an alien? In the past this would be a Twilight Zone-esque story where the concept would be explored. In Cullen Bunn’s Witch Hammer, a similar question is asked through a series of homicides with one thing in common they are all witches.

Witch. The word conjures images of hags in black robes and crooked hats, standing over cauldrons of bubbling brew. But witches are among us, and we do not realize it. They are our friends and neighbors. They are our family members. They are our idols.

And someone is murdering them.

Two young couples going out of town seemingly gets into a car accident, as one couple gets killed the surviving couple realize that it was no mere coincidence, but an assassination attempt. The reader soon finds out this is one in series of murders, which catches the attention of the FBI, where Agents Frontenac and Guinness are assigned to the case and find even more fatalities.

A killer is stalking witches, hunting them down mercilessly. As the FBI agents delve deeper into the hidden, magical world around them, they are haunted by a terrifying question. Is the killer doing the right thing?

The graphic novel is a new spin on the supernatural thriller. It combines elements of Silence of the Lambs with End Of Days creating an engaging bitches brew. The story by Cullen Bunn is entertaining, superlative and fast paced. The art by the creative team gives reader a raw unvarnished canvas which feels as visceral as anything you have ever seen. Altogether, it’s an excellent graphic novel which is more than a worthy entry in the canon of evil cult suspense books.

MAGNETO IS BACK!
…and so is Chris Claremont! For years, Magneto has done everything he can to achieve his goals for mutant domination. But now Magneto has declared that enough is enough. So what revolutionary plan does Magneto have that will change the face of mutantkind? And will anyone be able to stop him? Will anyone want to?

The villains of the X-Men are getting the spotlight in a series of one-shots whose purpose, not quite sure of that After reading X-Men: Black – Magneto, I’m still not sure.

Magneto has been a character for me whose history is complicated in every sense and that extends to his vision of his role for the world. The character’s youth and experiences during World War II are vital to appreciate him and has been used in interesting ways to help build sympathy and take a simple villain and make him something a bit more.

Writer Chris Claremont takes us to the basics of the character throwing in the current real world xenophobia and abuses by the Trump administration. Claremont reminds us that even when it comes to the villains, the X-Men are perfect vessels to explore our real world and its politics. In this case Magneto is forced to take action when the United States government places mutant children in detention camps. We’re reminded of the dark times throughout history, including multiple in the US, this has happened and left to wonder if we’ll ever learn.

There’s also a debate as to how to fight. Should these mutants flee to sanctuary, or should they use their power to prevent further abuses? It’s an interesting moment and one that hopefully is explored more in X-Men comics.

And that left me wondering, what’s the point of it all? The story is good and gives Magneto even more of a focus, bringing him back to the villain who has some valid points. But, with a muddled time frame it’s hard to place when this happens and thus what its impact, if any, will be. It’s a one-shot but is it anything vital?

Things aren’t helped by the art of Dalibor Talajic which includes inks by Roberto Poggi and Belardino Brabo, colors by Dono Sánchez-Almara, and lettering by VC’s Joe Caramagna. The art is pretty sub-par in every way to the point that outside of his costume it’s difficult to even recognize Magneto/Erik. Even when presented with dynamic scenes, the art fails to deliver never giving us that visual “holy crap” moment we’d expect and have seen elsewhere.

The issue also has a back-up story written by Zac Thompson and Lonnie Nadler, with art by Geraldo Borges, color by Rachelle Rosenberg, and lettering by VC’s Cory Petit. Following Apocalypse I again have to ask “why?”. The first part of a story that’ll run through all of the X-Men: Black releases, it’s neither good or bad and feels like a bit of a throwback in look. We learn more about Apocalypse and his powers placing him into a situation that may be difficult for him to deal with. But, is it necessary? Do we want to see vulnerable villains? The art too like the main story never quite clicks with design that seems to lack the style we’d expect from a high profile comic today. It looks like something out of the 90s, and even then a secondary miniseries from the main event.

The whole release is a bit of a head scratcher never quite making the case as to why it exists. There’s nothing terrible about it but it’s also not a comic that’s a must read either. It features two characters who have polar opposite views of the world in some ways and their dynamics are never explored. Magneto has one of the most interesting histories of any comic villain and while it’s touched upon the depth is barely mined giving us just an inch deep surface exploration. Potential is never reached.

Maybe when this is over the need for these comics will be apparent, but as is, it feels like a one-shot that didn’t need to happen.

MAGNETO IS BACK!
…and so is Chris Claremont! For years, Magneto has done everything he can to achieve his goals for mutant domination. But now Magneto has declared that enough is enough. So what revolutionary plan does Magneto have that will change the face of mutantkind? And will anyone be able to stop him? Will anyone want to? PLUS: Includes Part 1 of X-MEN BLACK: APOCALYPSE the back up story by Zac Thompson, Lonnie Nadler, and Geraldo Borge!

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Witch. The word conjures images of hags in black robes and crooked hats, standing over cauldrons of bubbling brew. But witches are among us, and we do not realize it. They are our friends and neighbors. They are our family members. They are our idols.

And someone is murdering them.

Agents Frontenac and Guinness are on the killer’s trail. But as they delve deeper into the hidden, magical world around them, they are haunted by a terrifying question. Is the killer doing the right thing?

Witch Hammer is the first original graphic novel from AfterShock, stories told the way they were meant to be told. Witch Hammer is written by Cullen Bunn with art by Dalibor Talajic, colors by Seb Camagajevac, lettering by Marshall Dillon, and a cover by Talajic. It comes to shelves November 28th.

MOVING TARGET Part 3
• LOGAN had dirt on the newest NYC mayor, the KINGPIN….but now he’s lost it!
• Logan is hurting and bleeding and now he’s got to chase Bullseye across Manhattan.
• What famous landmarks will he bloody up in his attempt to take the Kingpin down? And do you think any tourists will want to take selfies with him?

Shang-Chi’s Day Off Part 1 (OF 1)
The Marvel Universe is full of fighters: brawlers, scrappers, weapons experts, mystical kung fu virtuosi. But there’s only one martial artist skilled enough to be called the greatest. SHANG-CHI has been a pinch hitter for a long time, stepping in for Avengers missions when no one else would do, but when no one can match your speed or skill, sometimes it’s best to work alone. To see what you’ve been missing if you don’t know Shang-Chi, don’t miss MASTER OF KUNG FU!

For an in-depth look at our return to original numbering, fans can consult Marvel’s renumbering chart – a handy and easy way to jump on board with our Legacy content! Featuring new adventures and dozens of exciting returns, look for more interviews and updates with artists, writers, and editors of these series.

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When a product has been provided for free you will see disclosure at the bottom of the article. When such a disclosure does not exist, you can assume that the items have been purchased for review.

- The Management

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